Virtual Boot Camp Answers the Question “How Do I Create Work/Life Balance?

March 16, 2012 – 6:08 am

The age old question,” How do I create work/life balance?” is getting an answer in the form of the Holistic Body & Business Virtual Boot Camp scheduled  for March 21, 2012 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. eastern. This all day online event brings together body and business as it looks at healthy approaches to life and business.

“People think balance is a myth, but I say it’s a must. There are so many work and life stressors that face us each day. It’s important that we take the time out to center ourselves and to create wholeness in both body and business. Getting focused and gaining clarity are greats ways to do that. This boot camp is designed for individuals, specifically women that understand the need to step back and take the time to Breathe . . . “It’s like spring cleaning for the body and business, “ says event organizer, Sheronde Glover.

Glover first envisioned the event as a physical boot camp but thought to bring it online as a means of convenience and accessibility giving registrants an opportunity to refresh, reflect, revive and re-energize while in the comforts of their office or home.

The day will include a line up of 6 speakers who will address topics to include:

-Making Deliberate Decisions for Healthy Living and Business

-Understanding Your “Why” to Develop a Purpose-Driven Business

-Professional Preservation: Building A Healthy Work Environment

-Are You Making a Living and a Life? Creating Healthy Family Communications.

-How to Relax in a Chaotic Life

-A Healthy Brain Breeds Success

The event is sponsored by Sipping Tea and Doing Business, a division of The Business Practitioner, Inc. and is free of charge. Individuals can register at http://www.sippingteaonline.net/business.html

About Sipping Tea and Doing Business

What started as a book, has turned into an inspiring concept for entrepreneurial, business and professional women to create Bold, Balanced, Brilliance in both life and business. Sipping Tea and Doing Business offers the support, tools and resources for  women to Breathe and Just Be . . . The Woman She is Becoming! Sipping Tea and Doing Business offers coaching, training, and events for business and entrepreneurial-minded women. Sipping Tea and Doing Business is a property of The Business Practitioner, Inc., whose mission is to create healthy –purposeful, productive, and profitable business. More information is available at http://www.sippingteaonline.net

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Do You Have the X-Factor? What We Can Learn from Melanie Amaro

December 5, 2011 – 7:32 pm

 

I want to start this blog with full disclosure: I am not a fan of reality tv. As a matter of fact, outside of America’s Next Top Model (which I admittedly love), I don’t watch them. But if you own a computer and access the internet at all, it’s almost impossible not to get some reality show highlights. So as I scanned the web recently, there seemed to be a name that was popping up in a few places: Melanie Amaro. In case you somehow missed it, Melanie Amaro is a contestant on the reality show the “X Factor”, another Simon Cowell “find the next big star” original. Melanie, for the moment at least, is proving to have the “X Factor”. I took in a couple of Melanie’s videos and I must agree, this girl can sing.

The “X Factor” is about more than just singing, though. It’s identifying that person that has something special, the other thing, beyond the voice, that makes you shine, stand out from all the other competitors, and catapult yourself as “X Factor” material.

While it’s obvious this young lady came into the show as someone with significant talent, it wasn’t until just recently that Melanie seemed to find her own “X Factor”. Growing up with a very strong accent from the Virgin Islands, Melanie states that she was picked on, which lead her to cover up her accent (it’s amazing how well she was able to hide it).

In doing so Melanie presumably was accepted by her peers. The problem: She wasn’t being true to who she was. “It felt like a burden was lifted”, she states in her video about showing the world who she really is, accent and all.

At 18 years old, Melanie has come to a place of self discovery few obtain at such a young age. Many women much older than Melanie are still figuring that out, feeling compelled to play the role of actresses living a scripted life of who others say they should be.  I admire Melanie because she gets it. By acknowledging who she is, she is better positioned to embrace who she is becoming, which just may be the next singing sensation.

As you embark on your journey, whatever it may be, remember to consistently embrace the person you are now and the person you are becoming. What’s your “X Factor’?

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There are Only Two Choices

November 22, 2011 – 2:29 pm
Everyday is a new day filled with hope and promise. When we get up in the morning we have exactly two choices: To engulf ourselves in the problems of the world or to step back and take the time to be. The choice you make will set the course of your entire day so I encourage you to choose the latter.
 
Moments Like This Are Priceless
Right now, exactly now, I am in a complete state of being. I’ve dedicated some genuine time to writing, an art and a gift that I neglect too often. Writing for me is all about inspiration, a way for me to communicate and share my ideas, thoughts and opinions on the things that I’m most passionate about, offering a direct link into the wholeness of who I am and how I think. Thus taking the opportunity to sit and examine, to reflect and to report, has no earthly quantitative value because it‘s more spiritual than anything; a point of connection — with God, the universe and anyone who happens to enjoy reading the things I have to say. So as I sit here on the floor on my futon looking out the window on this gorgeous fall day, I have to take the time to recognize that this moment is truly priceless and I must cherish it because I know that time cannot be redeemed.

 

The Problems of The World
There is so much hunger, insensitivity, poverty, hurt, sickness, greed. The list is endless of the array of issues that overtake us each day. It may be the very foundation of which your business was built. It could be the thing that wakes you up so passionately in the morning, but it can also be the thing that derails you, depresses and discourages you. And when this happens it causes a disruption in your spirit, an entanglement that is much easier to get drawn into than to be released from. Just this morning, I went there. A clear, focused day of activities and errands quickly turned into a feeling of overwhelm and rushed anxiety. “Settle down, Type A, settle down, you’ll get it done“. Yes, the problems of the world include yours and mines. Thus there will be many times when the pressures of life and business will want to overtake you, seize you and steal your joy and in these moments you must resist. Problems and challenges don’t just fade away. All you have to do is turn on your local news to see that. There are real issues that have to be addressed. Your goal is to look at your challenges, get clear on the problem, determine the appropriate solution then act to see positive results.

Step Back and Take the Time to Be
Finding a way to center yourself will help to get you back into balance. And doing so doesn’t have to take an hour of meditation or yoga. It could be taking a quick moment to close your eyes and breathe. It might be a stroll around your office or neighborhood. Perhaps a warm cup of tea or lemon water will do the trick. Or maybe, similar to me, it’s taking a moment to jot down your thoughts on a computer. Whatever it is, I encourage you to take advantage of it because there’s only once choice you’ll need to make today.

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Balance is Not a Myth, It’s a Must!

November 17, 2011 – 12:10 am

Some people say balance is a myth. I don’t believe them. I think balance is a lot like success. You have to define it for yourself and if you do you are a lot better off and it’ll be much easier to find. The problem is, most of us tend to live our lives through the definition of others and that’s probably our biggest mistake. If success is defined as achievement and/or accomplishment, how then can I rightfully determine what that is for you?

But we do that everyday, allowing society and thus the “powers that be” to put such a significant imprint into our lives when they have no idea of our truth, thoughts and experiences. An accomplishment can be as big or as small as you like. Think of the first steps of a child and all the magnificence it provides for the family.

What an accomplishment! And think of all the other wonderful things that occur throughout the life of this child as he or she grows and matures into a successful adult. And then the definitions begin: how much money are you making, have you married just right, are you rising to the top of the corporate ladder?

What happened? I don’t really have the answer to that which is okay because this post is not about success, it’s about balance and I want to tell you how I found mine.

People often call me ambitious. It’s a word that I’ve heard throughout my life. I’m a classic type A personality, both intense and passionate. Wikipedia describes my personality type as business-like, controlling, highly competitive, impatient, time-conscious. Yep. That’s me! And people like us are rarely seen as balanced.

I realized this after I started my business. It’s as if one day I woke up, looked up and realized I had been in a 24-7 whirlwind for at least three years and I needed to get out. My whole life was about business, yet I had my priorities straight or at least I thought. But I was wrong and now I could see that. For one, I had stopped playing tennis (my favorite sport), which offered me a combination of fitness, recreation, and social time. I’m an avid reader, but doing that time I only read for business (and about business) although curling up with the beautiful prose of a literary writer is like a vacation for me. There were other things that I neglected as well, but I won’t give you the laundry list.

The bottom line is God gave me an idea for a book to help entrepreneurs. My primary goal was to answer commonly asked questions about getting started in business. But it was more than an idea, it was a revelation because the title came during a business discussion over a cup of tea.

I wrote Sipping Tea and Doing Business: A Holistic Journey to Business Success for women entrepreneurs from a business woman’s perspective in conjunction with my colleague and good friend. It started out as just a book, but it was so much more, and we knew it was a concept women could readily embrace. All the time that I was writing the book, I thought I was writing for other women entrepreneurs, but when I finished, I realized that the book was for me. Literally, I had birthed the very concept that I needed to be.

Every woman at some point in her life feels a sense of overwhelm, whether she is genetically driven that way or not. By nature we are problem solvers, forward thinkers, multi-taskers, planners, and nurturers. We step up and say “I’ll take care of it” even when no one asks us to. We often find pleasure in the chaos and can lose ourselves along the way. We forget who we were, who we are and who we want to be. And that’s why balance is not a myth, it’s a must.

But you have to define it for yourself.

For me, it was getting back on the tennis courts, experiencing the intensity of competition, and enjoying the company of my teammates. There is nothing that compares to the tension relief of hitting a tennis ball, the anticipation of the next shot and the victory of a win. It was also going to the library, perusing the shelves and then incorporating myself into the lives of the characters of whom I was reading.

But that was just the beginning of my journey. Today, I can appreciate early morning walks, the tranquility I find in the practice of yoga and meditation, as well as taking a day off to go see a film or enjoy a day at the spa.

So, if you were to ask me today if I am balanced? Based on my definition my reply would be yes, because I’ve given myself permission to just be (forever bold, intentionally balanced and shining with brilliance) and to embrace the woman I am becoming. If you are on a similar journey, I invite you to join me for tea (www.sippingteaonline.net)

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Entrepreneur’s Action Planning Competition Helps Business Owner Maximize Results

July 18, 2011 – 1:58 am

Forget Celebrity Apprentice, real life Atlanta entrepreneur Phyllis Moore understands competition along with the realities of entrepreneurship. Having opened her business Moore Money Matters, a financial services consulting firm in October 2010, Phyllis realized she could use some assistance meeting her business goals. To do so, she entered and recently won the 90 Day Business Challenge, a small business competition that allowed her to focus on setting and accomplishing relevant goals for her business.

“The 90 Day Business Challenge helped me to really focus and get clear on what I should be doing versus what I was doing. I was able to take a look at my business objectives, clarify my goals and take consistent steps for moving forward by developing an action plan”, states Moore. “I am elated to have participated and won the competition. It only gets better from here.”

Small business owners are often confronted with limited resources and can easily find themselves spinning their wheels without clear direction. Prioritizing and planning are thrown to the side in search of the next business dollar. The goal of the 90-Day Business Challenge, a group coaching program designed by The Business Practitioner, Inc. is to help business owners clarify their goals, get specific about their actions, gain momentum and accountability utilizing action planning as a strategy. Participants were able to access monthly teleseminars, coaching calls and receive online coaching throughout the 90 day competition.

“At the end of the day it’s about clarity and focus. Where am I trying to go and how do I get there? Vision put into action gets results, but you have to get clear on the short-term , the day-to-day stuff that makes a difference in your long range strategy. An action plan allows you to get specific with your goals and manage your calendar more effectively, says Sheronde Glover, CEO and Lead Practitioner of The Business Practitioner, Inc. “My goal with this program is to build momentum and to help business owners connect their “right now” actions with their vision for the future and to get really clear on their best next steps,” Glover continues.

Glover states it’s not always easy to stay the course when it comes to business. The challenge began April 4th and ended on June 31st. Five competing business owners representing various industries including financial services, health care, network marketing, and event planning participated but not all completed the challenge. Challengers were judged on the development of their action plans, their participation in teleseminars and coaching calls, completion of action plan progress reports and their accomplishments in meeting the goals they set for themselves. Moore received a total of 12 out of 12 points making her The Challenge winner. As the winner, Moore receives a marketing communications package valued at $1,100.00.

The 90 Day Business Challenge is an ongoing coaching program for entrepreneurs, small business owners and team members. The next 90 Day Business Challenge is scheduled for August 2nd. More information can be found at www.thebusinesspractitioner.com.

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Putting Goals into Action: An Interview with Starr Hall

July 12, 2011 – 1:11 pm

Goals without action are dreams and actions that are not aligned with a concrete goal and comparable follow up are usually a waste of time. Doing something repeatedly without clear purpose or motive doesn’t really get you anywhere. Here’s an example: If you have a goal to develop 10 new business relationships over the next 2 months and one of the ways you decide to do that is by attending 2 or 3 events a month, those actions sound reasonable. But if you go to these events, collect a lot of business cards and do nothing with them (like is often done) then you will have a difficult time achieving your goal of developing real relationships. 

This month I attended a Social Media Crash Course, which was taught by a very energetic, action oriented and successful entrepreneur named Starr Hall. I thought it would be interesting to get her perspective on taking action and moving forward. My interview with her follows:

Q1. Nike says, Just do it. What does Starr Hall say when it comes to really making it happen, setting goals and putting goals into action (and let‘s be honest Starr not everyone has your level of energy)? What’s your top 3 “take action” strategies?
 
Starr: Funny, but I say the same thing as Nike — Just do it! Really what are you waiting for? Even if you just take one extra action every day, you are getting that much closer to your goals.

Take Action Strategies:
1. Do at least one thing every day that is out of your comfort zone – pick up the phone and make that call, post that video, reach out to 20 new people online, etc.

2. Get yourself out there – do it with video or webcasts, telecalls, speaking appearances, take at least one step every day to make this happen.

3. Plan your day the night before. I often plan my week on a Sunday, however sometimes I get too busy and just can’t get to the Sunday planning although it has been the most powerful for me. At least plan your following day the night before so that you have clear focus as to what needs to get done. Do not make that plan all about administrative stuff, add marketing and getting out of your comfort zone in there too.

Q2. How does a business owner that is trying to grow and do the “work” maintain the art and balance of staying connected in addition to “working on” versus “working in” the business, especially with limited resources?
 
Starr – Hire a VA (Virtual Assistant). You can get a VA starting at $250 per month. Delegation is key to taking your business to higher levels. Until you start to delegate, you will stay stuck at a certain income level.

And since Starr is a social media coach and trainer, I wanted to make sure to ask her about social media, a hot topic and one of her favorites.

Q3. For a small business owner, what should be a top priority, a reasonable goal for example for engaging in and making the most out of social media (In your Social Proof Script, you mentioned getting 100 recommendations in 30 days — I mean, come on Starr, you‘re obviously a high achiever, but is that really necessary)?
 
Starr – You get out of it what you put into it. It shouldn’t take you more than 1 hour to send out a script asking 100 people for their recommendations. Again, this is something that you can delegate. Excuses in regard to not having energy like mine or not having enough time is not a healthy approach when you are looking to take your business to higher levels. Unless you put your entire self into it, aim high and work smart, you are going to stay stuck in the mud of what I call just enough, meaning you will only have just enough to get by or just enough to take some next steps. I don’t want to be just enough. I don’t want business owners to be just enough. I want them to be all of it. Give 110% and you will get that out.

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There you have it. You can be more productive by taking action! Small steps are better than no steps at all. If your goal is to get more engaged with social media for example, you don’t have to jump in as aggressively as Starr recommends. Business ownership is a marathon, much more than a sprint. It’s not necessary to get overwhelmed with the thought of obtaining 100 recommendations in 30 days. Maybe your goal is to have 10 good (quality over quantity) testimonials relevant to your service/product. So if you don’t have any, take action on getting your first one. Excuses are unacceptable.

How are you putting your goals into action? I want to invite you to join me for the 90 Day Business Challenge, an opportunity for you to get focused, create momentum and develop your plan for taking action.

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Who do you trust to help you grow your business?

June 8, 2011 – 1:52 pm

Sometimes you need a little help. Working in isolation only serves one person: you. When you learn to collaborate and build alliances you have the support and the ideas of many others. Building business partnerships can be profitable in many aspects – financially, socially, and emotionally. Just think of how much more you can accomplish when two or more come together to share a similar vision and mission. Everyone wins.  Likewise, having the support of a mentor, coach, and advisory board gives you different perspectives, angles, and opportunities to look at situations in a totally unique way.

Are you trying to grow your business alone?

I was conducting a training for a group of aspiring and new entrepreneurs and one of the participants stated his main issue was trusting people. Unfortunately, he’d had some situations in which his ideas were shared and not protected. Unfortunate indeed. It can certainly be a “dog eat dog” world out there but at some point you have to put your confidence in the hands of others. Yes, people will take your ideas. It’s been done before, so putting safe guards in place is a wise decision. But sitting back on a great idea without the support of others that might help you doesn’t benefit you either.

Today, take a look at your business. Ask yourself, who do you surround yourself with? What individuals have you entrusted to help you move beyond the place that you are currently? Who do you trust to help you grow your business?

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SMART Business Goals

June 1, 2011 – 2:54 pm

There are so many things to do when it comes to growing your business it’s difficult to know what to do first. Whether you’re the CEO, Executive Director or a team member, determining where to really focus your energy can be a challenge.  Everyday you have to ask yourself: Are the actions I’m taking getting me closer to my goal?

Goal Setting in Business

Goal setting in business can become ambiguous and cloudy. Sure, everyone wants more funding, more customers, more resources, or more awareness, but how do you take these vague concepts and turn them into actionable steps and tasks that really make a difference in your daily activities?

Getting SMART about it

When you consider your business goals the first thing you want to do is clarify what it is you are trying to achieve. For example, what does growing your business really mean for you — hiring staff, building brand awareness, increasing volunteers or donors, expanding into new markets, improving operations, strategic planning? Until you become very clear on what it is you truly need to accomplish and define your next level of growth, you can easily continue down a path that is not leading you to where you want to go. This means you have to be SMART.

S – Get as Specific as possible about what it is you want to accomplish.  Ex. Increase Productivity

M – Determine how you will Measure your progress. What is your anticipated outcome?  Ex. Decrease overtime by 15%.  

A – How Attainable is your goal? Attainable means that your goal is both manageable and possible, thus it’s something within your reach. This is where you determine what resources, be it finances, staff support, or other resources are available that will allow you to meet the goal you have outlined.

R – Consequently, setting smart goals means being Realistic. How reasonable and practical is your goal based on your capacity. Think big, but don’t set yourself up for disappointment.

T– Adding a Time Frame to your goal makes the expectations around completion clear for all those involved. If you set a goal with specific time frames, everyone, including yourself understands when results should be accomplished. Ex. Increase productivity and decrease overtime by 15% over the next 6 months.

SMART ACTIONS

Regardless of how SMART your goal is, without a clear cut road map (actionable steps to complete your goal) it can be challenging to complete. Thus you must take SMART actions. Knowing exactly what is needed to make your goals a reality is the missing key to the goal setting process.

Stay tuned for “Putting Goals Into Action”

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Play Like a Winner! Lessons Learned from Maria Sharapova

May 27, 2011 – 9:12 am

Sheer determination and a champion’s attitude pulled her through. Even when it looked like she’d lose the match, she turned it all around because she didn’t give up and she always believed she could do it.

I’m talking about Maria Sharapova, the Russian tennis star who recently won her French Open match after being a set and a half down and looking like, by most standards, she’d lose. But being the champion that she is, with all the guts, wherewithal, determination and strength, she kept at it, changed her strategy, went after her shots, remained focused and never for one second allowed herself to think she couldn’t win.

In case you are not familiar with Maria Sharapova, let me give you a really quick background. Maria and her dad left their home country of Russia as a child to come to the US so Maria could excel at the sport of tennis. At the ripe old age of 17, she won her first Grand Slam at Wimbledon beating none other than superstar, Serena Williams. As a teen, she was confident enough to go out on the court against the number 1 player in the world, say I can, and she did. Recently, she summoned the same attitude and philosophy.

Tennis is mostly mental. So is business. While there are certainly many technical skills that are needed in both the best success stories come from the ones that never give up, triumph over difficult circumstances, refuse to let background, status, or any other obstacles get in their way and forge ahead any way. This, my friend is the attitude of a true winner, the heart of a champion. And if you want to be successful in the things that you do, you will have to learn to do what they do.

1.   Believe in yourself and your skills. Build your confidence everyday by knowing that you can do the things you set out to do.
2.   Don’t Give Up. Nothing can stop you but your own doubts. Regardless of the rejections and disappointments, continue to forge ahead knowing that your breakthrough is coming.
 3.   Use Positive Affirmations. Serena, the number one women’s tennis player in the world (regardless of what the rankings say) uses note cards, with simple thoughts and reminders to help her stay focused.
4.   Rely on Sound Strategy. Always go in with a plan and work your plan, and then if that doesn’t work resort to plan B.
5.  Be Willing to Adjust. When the first strategy doesn’t work, you have to tweak the formula, stay in the game and make it work.
 6.  Focus on Every Point. Don’t get ahead of yourself. In tennis, players know you must take one point at a time and that every point counts.
7.  Take Some Risks. If you’re a base player, sometimes you have to go to the net, throw your opponent off and do something different. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t, but you have to be willing to take the risk.
8.   Go After Your Shots. Even when it doesn’t work, you have to go after your shots, play your game and not someone else’s. That’s how you win.
9.  Play Every Point Out. A true champion plays every shot out regardless of whether she’s up or down. She doesn’t give away points, play less hard, or become disinterested because she’s down. You never know what’s going to happen.

In business you have to play like a champion, remain determined and go for your shots everytime, regardless of the outcome.
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Learning Who You Are Is the First Strategy for Business Success

May 26, 2011 – 1:53 pm

After 25 years, Oprah is gone, argubly the most successful business women to date. Millions of individuals have learned and gained valuable insight from the lessons Oprah has shared everyday for the last 25 years, yet Oprah, in her show finale spoke of how much she’s grown over the years through her viewers.

Oprah became a success by being who she is. While she had industry mentors and those she admired, she knew the only way she could do what she did well was to be herself and WoW! look at what happened. Often times we fall short when we try to replicate someone else. The goal in life is to be yourself, “do you” as some have put it, and by being and doing you, you are able to successfully impact the lives of others.

Our society has gotten so good at phoniness and putting on masks, that it can sometimes be challenging to discipher what really makes us who we are.

A long time ago, I created a Life Purpose and Lifework Statement for myself. I’d like to share those here:

Life Purpose Statement: My purpose in life is to be a creative, spiritual, passionate, energetic and healthy being; to be honest, challenged and fun and to have a positive impact on other’s lives.

Lifework Statement: My lifework, mission and vision, purpose and opportunity, is to help uplift others, to help them to develop and achieve their full potential.

When I consider the businesswoman that I am and the work that I do as a trainer, consultant, author and coach, I see these things reflected over and over again.

When you know who you are, you become clear on your purpose and how to fulfill it. Take some steps to take a closer, deeper look at yourself as opposed to others and ask yourself: 

1. What energy do I bring?

2. What do I value?

3. How do I express myself?

4. What do I want to contribute?

5. What do I really enjoy?

6. What things am I passionate about?

 Learn who you are and then express that throughout your business and success is sure to come your way.

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